[matkoniecz]

> These people are effectively bound to their employer because losing their job means losing their home and means of subsistence.

Even in this case it is still significantly better than being enslaved.

Even with the worst wage labour people still have option to leave it. Slave owner can force slaves into mine and never let them out and force them to work in horrific conditions until they die. Happened in many places across history, likely still happens somewhere.

With enough stuff like company scrip, company stores, ensuring that laws outlaw being homeless and deliberate breaking of relationship allowing people to escape you can get situation undistinguishable from slavery.

But just "if I will be fired then I am instantly homeless" is still markedly better than "my owner can force me to work to death in a mine".

> The world is not black and white, and the fact that a situation is not as absolutely terrible as a sex slave in Mauritania should not shut down any discussion. There are shades of involuntary work.

Definitely! I am not claiming that oppression does not exist but "wage labour is tantamount to slavery" is an absurd claim.